ORLANDO–Beautifully decorated tables and a gift bag in every seat greeted 285 Florida Baptist ministers’ wives as they arrived for the annual Ministers’ Wives Luncheon held in First Baptist Church in Orlando’s Faith Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Highlights of the luncheon with the theme “One Mind,” included praise and worship, the presentation of the Clyde M. Maguire Award for Ministers’ Wives and a message from guest speaker, Elizabeth Luter.
Rachel Uth, wife of First Orlando’s David Uth, and Diane Strack, a trustee of One More Child, welcomed the women.
Cindy Bradley, catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention’s Women’s Missions and Ministry/Mission Education, introduced Karen Green, wife of Tommy Green, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, who presented the Maguire Award.
This award, named in honor of the late Clyde Maguire whose husband John served as executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention from 1945-1967, is given annually to a Florida Baptist minister’s wife who has demonstrated faithful use of the gifts God has given her in support of her husband’s ministry and in her own ministry.
This year’s recipient was Rachel White, wife of pastor Paul White, Faithbridge Church, Jacksonville.
In 2013 White co-founded Her Song Jacksonville, which provides shelter and services to survivors of forced sex-slavery. Through survivor care, victim outreach and community awareness, Her Song works to interrupt the cycle of human trafficking.
Luter, speaker, women’s ministry director and wife of pastor Fred Luter, Jr., Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, encouraged the wives to “get back in your seat,” of calling and responsibility.”
Luter spoke on the theme “One Mind” based on Phil. 2:1-2. Luter referred to v. 2 in her opening remarks: “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”
As a pastor’s wife for over 30 years, she shared that a minister’s wife’s “greatest job is to pray without ceasing; live without falter; and love without fail. And when we love, we’ll find God right there coming to rescue us,” she said.
“God has things planned we can’t imagine if we stay single-minded,” she added
The luncheon was provided as a gift to Florida’s ministers’ wives by the Florida Baptist Convention. Other contributions were made by the host church, One More Child, and The Baptist College of Florida.